Flat Rate

FEATURED ARTICLES ABOUT FLAT RATE - PAGE 3

BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. - U.S. Silica Co.'s appeal to the West Virginia Public Service Commission (PSC) protesting a flat water rate was heard Wednesday, and members of the public showed up to protest a recommended rate increase alternative. Several local water customers at the hearing spoke against the PSC recommendation to increase the water rates instead of allowing the flat water rate that was approved a few months ago by the Bath Town Council. The flat rate of $8.77 per 1,000 gallons for the first 6,000 gallons would benefit smaller users, but would be a substantial increase for larger users.

ANNAPOLIS - Four Washington County bills advanced Thursday in the state Senate. The Senate gave final approval to a bill letting Washington County issue up to $80 million in bonds for construction projects. The House approved the bill 134-0 in February. Three other bills received preliminary Senate approval Thursday: · Removing the cap on the county's excise tax on new residential construction for one year so the county can switch from a flat rate to a progressive rate based on square footage · Clarifying and amending regulations for the county's fire police · Letting the county issue civil citations for infractions of trade and building codes instead of filing criminal charges The bills must come back before the Senate for final approval.

Bath Town Council member resigns BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. - Councilman Kenny Easton resigned his position effective Nov. 30, Mayor Susan J. Webster announced at Tuesday night's Bath Town Council meeting. Webster said Easton's resignation letter was received Nov. 9 and that he is moving out of town. Easton was re-elected in June and was serving his second term as councilman. Former councilwoman Irene Hedrick submitted a letter expressing an interest in filling the vacant seat, Webster said, and the council unanimously approved Hedrick to take over Easton's council seat effective Dec. 1. Hedrick served on the Bath Town Council in 2003 and chaired the cemetery committee, Webster said.

CLEAR SPRING ? Tom Arenobine was surprised, but not concerned, when he started reading stories in The Herald-Mail about a surcharge being added to Allegheny Power bills for energy-efficient light bulbs. "I thought it was absurd, but I didn't think I'd be affected because I was not a customer when it started," said Arenobine, who signed up for electric service through Allegheny in November. But Arenobine received two shocks with his December electric bill, which came in the mail last week.

Mother and baby should ride home in style from the hospital or birthing center, said the owners of a new Hagerstown-based limousine company. Jim's Limousine Service, started Sept. 1 by James and Amanda Maynard, is offering a special newborn service at a flat $30 rate in Washington and Frederick counties. "After all that work, they deserve to be pampered," said Amanda Maynard, 25, who believes the service is unique in the area. James Maynard, 32, said he got the idea for the newborn service from a list of services offered by limousine companies in other places that small business counselors gave him to help with his planning.

BOONSBORO - The Town Council introduced a $1 million budget Monday that does not include an increased trash charges or funds for a third sheriff's deputy. The council proposed lowering the minimum amount of gallons for which a flat sewer rate is charged. The change will raise $13,000 yearly in additional revenues, according to council member Kevin Chambers. The council previously debated whether to retain its third deputy, whose salary is mostly paid by a federal grant that expires Sept.

A new contract with the City of Hagerstown's attorneys and contracts to demolish the former West End Market and design picnic pavilions for the Fairgrounds Park were among the items unanimously approved by the Hagerstown City Council on Tuesday as part of its consent agenda. The city's contract for legal services with the Hagerstown law firm Urner, Nairn and Boyer was extended for three years. The contract was to expire Dec. 31. According to city records, in 1998 the firm provided 908.5 hours of legal services at a cost of $91,189.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - The Martinsburg City Council on Thursday approved a $27.6 million budget plan for the 2009-10 fiscal year that doesn't include a tax increase, but residents might very well be asked to pay more in garbage fees later this spring. The city council unanimously voted to authorize the preparation of an ordinance to increase sanitation fees. Residents who receive a discounted rate for paying their bills within 20 days of the billing date could be asked to pay $5.74 more per month or $68.88 per year, according to a draft of proposed increases reviewed by the council's Budget and Finance Committee earlier this month.

BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. - The Bath Town Council focused its attention on the Berkeley Springs Water Works, the town-owned water department, at its meeting Tuesday night. The council unanimously approved paying Thrasher Engineering $4,500 for a preliminary construction cost estimate for the next water pipe replacement project called Phase II. Thrasher headed up the $2.4 million, year-long pipe replacement project completed last September. More than 98 percent of the century-old pipes in town were replaced, but the pipes outside of town are leaking.